TODAY'S SAINT (Mary of Egypt)

MARY OF EGYPT

(d. fifth or sixth century)

Egyptian hermit

 

 

Much of the  life of Mary of Egypt  is legend. According to the Life of St. Cytracus by Cyril of Scythopolos, Cyrracus  was traveling in the Jordanian desert with companions when he found a woman who said her name was Mary, and that she was  a famous singer and actress who had sinned and was  atoning for her sins by living as a heremit. On their  way back, they found the woman dead. From this was spun a legend that became popular during the Middle Ages.

     According to a version written by St. Andrew of Crete (d,. 740), who quotes St. Sophronius, patriarch of Jerusalem (ca. 560-638), an elder of a monastery in Palestine, Zosimus, went out into the Jordanian desert to fast and pray during Lent. After 20 days he came upon a naked woman witth long white hair. He gave her his cloak. She addressed him by name and told him her story.

     The woman said she was from Egypt. She ran away from her parents at age 12 and went Alexandria, where she lead a life of sin and debauchery, seducing every man she could find. She rarely took money, and lived by begging and spinning flax. One day she encountered Libyans and Egyptians going to Jerus-alem and decided to go with them, though she had no money to pay for her passage  across the sea. She paid her way with sexual favors, even forccing youths against their will.

     In Jersualem, on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, she  experienced a conversion before an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She heard a voice tell her that if she crossed the River Jordan she  would find glorious rest. A stra-nger gave her money, with which she bought three loaves of bread. She was-hed in  the river, crossed it and took up life as a hermit.

     The three loaves of bread dried and lasted her several years. For 17 years she went through a dark night of the soul, fighting temptation and despair. She lived on herbs and whatever she could find. Another 30 went by before she was found by Zosimus.

     Zosimus wanted to become he disciple, but she demurred. Instead, she asked him to bring her Communion on the next anniversarry of the  Last Supper. He agreed, but told his story to no one. The following year, he returned to the desert with the body and blood, and a small amount of food. He waited by the banks of the river. Mary appeared and walked across the water. She took Communion, and told him to come again the next year, and to pray for her.

       Zosimus returned  again as requested, but found heer  lying dead on the opposite shore of the river.  She had written in the sand that he should bury her on the spot. He was having little success digging in the earth when a lion appeared and licked Mary's feet. It dug a hole, and Zosimus buried Mary in the cloak he had given her. Zosimus lived to age 100 and died in hhis monastery. 

     Various dates are given for Mary. Zosimus is said to have found her in 430. Her date of death also is given as 522.

 

      Feast: April 3

 

FURTHER READING

"The Life of Our Holy Mother Mary of Egypt." From The Great Canon,

     the Work of Saint Andrew of Creete.

     URL: http://www.ofc.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/st.mary.html .

     Downloaded September 24, 2000.